It uses a special oxide to repel water and miniature nozzles that blast out water and air to get rid of dust and dirt.

The windshield uses super-thin layers of nanoparticles on top of the windscreen. Each layer is a couple atoms thick, meaning they can work simultaneously on water and dust.

And it does appear an attractive idea — after all, even the best windshield wipers don’t reach the whole screen, which means drivers have to put up with a permanent “film” that restricts vision at the extreme edges of the glass area.

Windshield wipers also get frozen to the glass overnight in winter — a common cause of calls for emergency service, when fuses blow as a result of drivers starting the car without first freeing up the wipers.